TIME TO PULL OUT THE WELCOME MAT.

Byline: KEVIN MODESTI

On behalf of football fans all over the Los Angeles area, I would like to extend the heartiest possible welcome to the coaches, players and staff of the University of Texas upon your arrival in Southern California, and wish you good luck and good times as you prepare for Wednesday's Rose Bowl game against USC.

Congratulations to the Longhorns on your No. 2 national ranking, and kudos to quarterback Vince Young in particular for placing second in the Heisman Trophy race and so graciously accepting the voting result.

We hope you will enjoy your close-up view of the Trojans' crowning as national champions and Matt Leinart's and Reggie Bush's triumphant college send-off.

Of course, the game should be only the final delight in a week of hospitality befitting the team selected this year for the important role of Trojans Opponent.

First of all, we trust you had an enjoyable trip in from Austin.

Sounds like you fellows were blessed with a few hours' more ``bonding time'' than you anticipated when the bus got stuck at that busted railroad-crossing barrier in Alamogordo. It was with potential delays like this in mind that the national-title game organizers arranged for you to travel in one of Greyhound's new padded-seat vehicles.

By now, you have settled in to one of our region's many reliable hotels.

You'll discover, if you haven't already, that among the amenities offered by Walt 'n' Jan's Motor Lodge in beautiful downtown Hawthorne are 24-hour laundry service (detergent available for purchase at front desk), a handy mini-bar in each room (liquor pre-tasted for your safety by the helpful staff), and a Denny's just across the parking lot.

Each of you will find on your bed a gift that we hope you will accept as a token of the esteem accorded to you by gridiron aficionados in our area.

Yes, it's your very own cardinal-and-gold No. 5 Reggie Bush jersey and autographed photo of Matt Leinart with Nick Lachey - it wouldn't be a trip to L.A. without a taste of Hollywood!

Plus, please enjoy a colorful book of photos and history to stoke your appreciation for the Rose Bowl's rich tradition.

The Trojans' role in that tradition can be found on pages 5 to 273. The Longhorns' is on page 274 (footnotes).

Those of you who remember visiting Disneyland as part of the Rose Bowl-week festivities last year can look forward to experiencing a different local amusement facility this year.

On the day the Trojans go to Disneyland, you Longhorns will be off to Dwight Lanning's Carnival on Wheels in the Vons parking lot in Tustin, featuring the always-thrilling House of Tetanus.

A pause now to point out that I'm kidding about the bus, the motel, the gift, the other gift and the carnival.

Four years ago, when Miami was a huge favorite to beat Nebraska for the national title in Pasadena, I wrote something similar in which the Cornhuskers were staying at the Acme Motor Lodge in South Gate, receiving Oregon Ducks sweatshirts as gifts and taking a sightseeing tour of the L.A. River.

Nebraskans did not see the joke in any of it, even though I was actually sympathizing with the Huskers, the way they were being treated as second-class citizens. Weeks later, the angry letters were still arriving by mule. The foolishness of some people, not recognizing satire.

Anyway, Longhorns, I know you traveled by plane and will stay at a four-star hotel, get a fruit basket, go to Disneyland and dine at Lawry's.

It's all deserved because of the season you've had and the hard work you're going to put in on the practice field in the days before you get to step into the same stadium as the Trojans.

As for the Lawry's dinner: You are invited to arrive early that evening in order to deal with autograph seekers, to avoid reporters, and to park the Trojans' cars.